. >> woodruff: senate minority leader mitch mcconnell sat down with the three confirmed additions to the republican conference. he said it was time to tackle the nation's problems. >> the country has extraordinarily difficult set of challenges facing us over the next couple of months. the election is behind us. we're ready to get started. >> woodruff: the most difficult of those challenges will be reaching a deal to avert a so-called fiscal cliff. starting january 1, some $500 billion in tax increases will take effect with the expiration of the bush era tax cuts and the payroll tax holiday. at the same time automatic spending cuts will hit defense and domestic programs totaling $109 billion. the spending reductions were triggered when the congressional super committee failed to reach a broad deficit deal last year. that came after talks broan down between the president and house speaker john boehner. senator collins told the newshour today that she's optimistic lawmakers can still strike a deal and stave off the spending cuts. >> so this has to be done carefully. i think the presiden